Prep games of the week: top contests in baseball highlight week's action

There are less than three weeks left in the prep baseball and softball regular seasons, meaning teams need to make the final push heading into the playoffs.

A lot of games are scheduled this week, but possible rain Wednesday and Thursday in Redding could alter the chances of some teams being able to play.

Prep baseball highlights the week, with Red Bluff hosting Pleasant Valley, and then a battle for supremacy in the Northern Section ensues when Foothill hosts PV on Friday.

As big as those games are for the Division I standings, a career softball record could be matched when Mount Shasta's Kayla Spini takes the circle against Burney on Friday.

An eventful week is at hand, so take a look at the top prep games of the week:

Today

Prep baseball, Pleasant Valley at Red Bluff, 7 p.m.

Red Bluff (19-3) saw its 17-game winning streak snapped when it was beaten 11-1 by Foothill on Thursday. The Spartans responded well with a 23-1 win over Las Plumas on Friday, but now faces the top team in the Northern Section in PV (19-4). Red Bluff does have an edge though, as it has handed the Vikings their lone loss from a Northern Section team this season, rallying to score four runs in the bottom of the seventh to beat them 8-7 on March 10.

Prep softball, Chico at Foothill, 4 p.m.

The Cougars went 2-1-2 in the Shasta Invitational over the weekend with the loss and ties coming to the top three teams in the section (Anderson, Shasta and Red Bluff). Foothill (12-4-3) has a dominant pitcher in junior Lindsay Davis but is lacking the timely hitting against top pitchers. However, the Cougars have roughed up Chico (5-6) twice this season, beating them 5-0 and 3-0, with Davis holding them to four total hits combined in the two games.

Wednesday

Prep softball, Red Bluff at Shasta, 6 p.m.

Red Bluff (17-2-2) beat Shasta twice in the Wolves' own tournament, the second coming in the tournament final. The Spartans' 5-1 weekend launched them to the No. 1 spot in the section, according to MaxPreps, but Shasta does have one win over the Spartans this season.

Thursday

Prep boys golf, EAL North Meet @ Palo Cedro, noon

Pleasant Valley is far out in front in the Eastern Athletic League North boys golf race, but Enterprise and Shasta have been battling for the second place spot in the league, which would allot them at-large bids for the Division I championship. Bragging rights and positioning are at stake with one league match remaining after this one.

Friday

Prep baseball, Pleasant Valley at Foothill, 4 p.m.

The school that has given the Cougars the most trouble is Pleasant Valley. Foothill's two losses this season came against the Vikings, 3-1 and 6-4. PV and Foothill are the No. 1 and 2 scoring teams in the section, respectively, but the Cougars also have allowed a section-low 39 runs through 21 games. Cougars' ace Brandon Erickson (6-0, 0.90 ERA) is expected to take the mound in the biggest game of the year.

Prep softball, Burney at Mount Shasta DH, 2 p.m.

Mount Shasta's Spini is one win away from her third 20-win prep season and is four away from tying the Northern Section's career win mark of 85, set by Sutter's Jessica Moore. The Bears host Weed today for a doubleheader; if Spini wins both those games, Friday's doubleheader against Burney (6-9) is an opportunity to tie the record. Mount Shasta (19-3) has already beaten Burney 7-0 this season and beaten Weed 11-2.

Saturday

Prep track and field, Hornet Invite, 9 a.m.

The annual Hornet Invite at Enterprise High School is usually the marquee preseason meet, wherein athletes post their marks to improve on for the rest of the year. However, the meet was postponed after being rained out at the end of March, and now the competitors have a chance of posting high marks heading into league championships May 11.